Fan Fest’s last day leaves memories for a lifetime & high hopes for KC’s future
Saturday marked the last day of the World Cup in Kansas City. The last game was played at Kansas City Stadium before it returns to its original name, Arrowhead Stadium.
The free FIFA Fan Festival was busy with high energy, but a bit of a somber tone, as fans watched Argentina and Switzerland battle toe to toe for their spot in the final game against England, who won their quarterfinal against Norway earlier in the day.
“It’s been really cool to see, like, every country just come together for the greatest tournament in the world,” said Fred Frimpong from Des Moines, Iowa. Fan Fest’s final day was his third time visiting the event in KC.
Although the day started with storms and high heat, the heat of the moment couldn’t be stopped.
“I feel like the energy has probably been the biggest there is. It’s pretty sad that this is the last weekend, and I’m really looking forward to it if they do this again,” said Jeremy Grimaoda, who was supporting Argentina, the winning team. “It’s pretty crazy the amount of people that are here.”
The event hit its 25,000 capacity earlier in the day, a first and last for the free festival.
The last day of Fan Fest was Grimaoda’s first experience at the event; he knew it was something he couldn’t miss again if the World Cup touched down in KC in the future, he said. Matter of fact, he has no doubt that if it comes back, it’ll be back bigger and better, Grimaoda said.
He hopes the city has its time to shine again.
Soccer jerseys from Argentina were flooding the scene, with occasional Mexico, USA and other fans repping their fallen teams.
“I see a lot of blue shirts, a lot of Argentinians, but also a lot of English people,” said Armando Rovrizues, a fan from Mexico who was on a work trip but making time for World Cup events.
He’s seen the cultural impact the World Cup has been making so far on KC, and the country overall, he said.
“It brings things from Europe, it brings things from Africa, a lot of different things,” Rovrizues said.
An event like this brings together people from a number of different cultures, and the city should have more of that mixing pot feeling, regardless of whether it’s for the World Cup or not, said Jonathan Grimaoda, who came to Fan Fest with his brother, Jeremy Grimaoda.
“I’ve definitely just learned that all cultures are different, for sure. They all have their own significant differences, and it’s really good to honor that and try and be part of that,” Jonathan Grimaoda said. “It’s a delight to know so many different cultures.”
The area is due for growth, especially with how popular it seemed to have gotten with the matches in the city, Jeremy Grimaoda said.
KC has also left an impact on its visitors, Rovrizues said.
“How people treat you; they’re very kind, they’re always smiling, asking about your faith,” he said. “It kind of gets you, and you get that energy for yourself.”
The World Cup in KC marked an international event highlighting the work that Kansas City has put in to become the soccer capital of America.
With the intense volume of events in the city, people have been able to go out in ways they haven’t been before, creating connections.
“It’s been fun to see a bunch of people cheering when normally I’m sitting on my couch alone,” said Katie Hatfield, an Argentina fan who had her first Fan Fest experience.
With tourists in the city almost like never before, residents celebrate the diverse walks of life.
“It’s just been awesome seeing all different kinds of people coming together and being able to celebrate whoever, whatever,” said Jelessa Stafford, a KC native who brought two friends, Hatfield and Onna Rincler, to get their Fan Fest experience for the first time.
Her friend, Rincler, also enjoys the cultural exchange happening in the city at this time. As a Kansas native, Algeria’s stay in Lawrence was a highlight, she said.
The firsthand experience of learning that everyone may not believe the same things but are still able to come together was ecstatic for her, she said.